Lora Leighs RAW

So this past weekend I went to Lora Leigh's Readers Appreciation Weekend (RAW) for the very first time and I had the best time imaginable.

Just to let you know authors who were there so totally awesome and very nice. It was like heaven with all the naughty books you could ever read written by the following kick ass authors.

Lora Leigh, C H. Admirand, Dana Marie Bell, Shayla Black, Monica Burns, Mari Carr, Veronica Chadwick, Bianca D'Arc, Sylvia Day, Jacquelyn Frank, Darynda Jones, Stephanie Julian, Sahara Kelly, Angela Knight, Isabella LaPearl, Gennita Low, Amanda McIntyre, Marla Monroe, Sophie Oak/Lexi Blake, Ranae Rose, Carrie Ann Ryan, Jayne Rylon, Beth Williamson and Mary Wine.

I was sad that Yasmine Galehorn couldn't make it but hopefully I will meet her another time.

So just to start you off I started my RAW weekend by picking up my new friend Jane Smolen in Greensboro and she road tripped with me up to Hagerstown Maryland with the help of Mr Garmin. We talked and laughed our butts off the whole 4.5 hours that's right 4.5 hours because I got there hour earlier than we thought we would get there because well... I drive a little fast.

We ended up getting connecting rooms and there was an open door policy and we started by putting our stuffs in our room and checking into RAW. After getting our swag bags, name tags and t-shirts. We went to get our memory book signed and talk with our favorite authors. Jane was super excited to finally meet Mari Carr and Jane Rylon. I was happy to see Ranae Rose and Carrie Ann Ryan again and meet others for the first time. This was a great intro for the start of the weekend. Dinner was our our own so we hit up the hotel resturant which was pretty darn good.

I saw a couple people I had met at the Fredrick Book Festival and met some new friends. Then we were introduced to the authors though a princess party. I know that wasn't what it was called but we got crowns and wands. And I got to Meet Sylvia Day and Gennita Low for the first time. I love their books and they both are super nice.

We then called it a night. Friday started off with meeting the authors again and the heading to some Red Hot Pictionary which was pretty damn funny I don't think I laughed that hard in a long time. We had to draw dirty words wanna see what I had to draw????

 I can't draw stick figures so yeah... lol... But the funniest part of this was that the person who go the answer correct had to read excerpt from book that has the word in it. Yeah this was funny as the authors started acting out the scenes. Poor Carrie Ann got spanked. where was tons of panels to keep you busy and allowed you to interact with the authors. I enjoyed the author round tables which was kind of like speed dating but with authors. After Dinner it was time to get ready for the 80's party I have to say the  Friday Night's 80's Party was pretty awesome. Here is some pictures from that.

Melinda, Kim, Me and Nikkie

 Jane and Mari

The Little Mermaid group awesome costumes 

I also enjoyed the author round tables it was like speed dating but with Authors and was nice to get inside scoops and find out when they started writing and all the good things you want to know about authors. 

Saturday was just as busy as Friday but there was the Cowboy Stampede and what a Stampede it was with line dancing, free swag and books and cowboy themed giveaways. Then followed by another round table/author speed dating. It was officially called Falling Leaves and Changing Authors. Then panel with Lora Leigh, Jaquelyn Frank and Sylvia . Last dinner and then the Slumber Party in your PJ's which was fun. 

Over all I love RAW and Will be going back next year... All I can say is I plan on going day early to sight see because I did miss out on the earlier activities on Thursday as we arrived around 1:30 in the afternoon.

I ended up with tons of books and swag and here are the books i bought, won and received for free at RAW.

Wildfire by Mina Khan Cover Reveal & Book Release

Wildfire: A Paranormal Mystery with Cowboys and Dragons

Thanks Jeannie for hosting me and for creating the awesome book thongs! I’m thrilled to share my new novel, Wildfire: A Paranormal Mystery with Cowboys and Dragons, with you and your readers. Check out my cover:

Blurb:

Lynn Hana Alexander is a 25-year-old Japanese American shape-shifter haunted by guilt. She’s been questioning herself and her dragon abilities ever since she failed to save her grandmother.

When her best friend is threatened by mysterious fires burning up acres of West Texas, Lynn rushes to the rescue determined not to fail again. However, with a tempting firefighter, a flirty city developer and dragon pheromones distracting her, how is she going to find the arsonist?

And worse: is her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life?

Want a taste? Here’s an excerpt:

Closing her eyes, Lynn Hana Alexander inhaled the dank smell of the bayou and summoned the change.

Heat crackled across her skin, filled her mind, as blue-green scales rippled over her body giving her tan a bronze sheen. Lynn’s core dissolved to molten lava, reformed and hardened. Muscles stretched and grew stronger, bones pushed and molded flesh. Nubs emerged from her back, elongated and flared into wings. A deep burn spread from her gut, igniting cell after cell, until she shook like a live wire juiced on raw power.

Her leathery wings flailed behind her as she stumbled around a bit before settling into the new weight. One would think a five foot one and half-inch Asian American woman would transform into a delicate, miniature-poodle type of dragon. Not so. In dragon-form, Lynn was seven feet of sharp scales, sinuous muscle and steely strength.

She raised her face to the moon and launched from the roof. Below her, Buffalo Bayou wound through downtown Houston glittering like a net of diamonds under the silver moonlight. The tremendous beat of her wings drowned out her worries for a moment.

Buy Links: Smashwords  Amazon  B&N  ARe  Kobo

Giveaway: Dragon and Heart Book thong 

If you’d like a signed paperback copy of Wildfire, check out my Goodreads giveaway!

Also, if you answer my question in the comments below, you might be picked to win a signed paperback of Wildfire and an awesome book thong designed by Jeannie…isn’t that the perfect giveaway for Just Jeannie’s Books & Bling? Jeannie gets to pick the winner!

Here’s the question: What’s your favorite dragon book? Why do love it?

Author Bio:

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She writes about djinns (genies), dragons, hunks and whatever else sparks her fancy. She also writes a weekly food column for the San Angelo Standard-Times as Rashda Khan. Originally from Bangladesh, she is now a proud West Texan.

Her first published work, The Djinn's Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest. A Tale of Two Djinns won the 2013 Readers’ Crown for best paranormal romance.

For more information check out her:

Amazon Author Page

Blog: Stories by Mina Khan

Facebook Author Page

Twitter: @SpiceBites

To sign up for Mina’s quarterly newsletter with release updates and inside information on the stories, please check out: 

http://eepurl.com/wb-8n

Review of Wildfire by Mina Khan

Description
Lynn Hana Alexander is a 25-year-old Japanese American shape shifter haunted by guilt. She’s been questioning herself and her dragon abilities ever since she failed to save her grandmother.

When her best friend is threatened by mysterious fires burning up acres of West Texas, Lynn rushes to the rescue determined not to fail again. However, with a tempting firefighter, a flirty city developer and dragon pheromones distracting her, how is she going to find the arsonist?

And worse: is her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life?

My Review

I have to say I loved this book... It had a very interesting story line which kept you captivated and had you wanting to continue reading and wanting to know who is responsible for the fires.

The characters are interesting and were thoughtfully constructed.  Lynn has a hard time of it lately her grandmas death and dumping her cheating fiance...  Add in Jack and Henry which are handsome men who attract both her human and dragon side and both attracted to Lynn but both have her questioning which one has alternative motives.

Mina has spun a suspenseful and interesting story which leaves you hoping she will write more dragon stories.

I hate giving away ending but have to say that you will be happy with the outcome of this book and if you like inquisitive reporter, who did its and romantic tension this book is for you.

I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5

* I recieved a copy of this book for my honest review.  You can by this book at
Amazon

September Contest

Hey All,

So normally I post a picture of the prize for the monthly contest... Well.... I would but I don't have it yet :)

Why because in two weeks I am going to LLRAW and I am going to come back with a whole lot of goodies and the winner of this month's contest will receive Random Swag (some i have here and some from LLRAW) and a Paperback book ( it's a surprise) I am going to let my oldest pick what book you will be getting... Don't worry it will be a good one and most likely signed (if he doesn't pick a signed one) I will make sure to include signed swag :). You will also be getting a book thong (made by me) and who knows what else.

So what do you have to do to enter??? Easy just do what the Rafflecopter Says to do :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Much Love Always and Good luck - Jeannie

Winners Of August's Monthly Contest.

Its that time again... Monthly Contest Winners...As it was my birthday month I had three winners who will receive awesome prize of tons of swag and goodies :) 

So according to Rafflecopter the three winners are..... Drum Roll......

Mandy Steffen Riddell

Elizabeth Hyatt

Jane Somlen

Sending your emails out please email me back or message me on Facebook with your addresses so I can send out your prizes on Friday :)

Review Glisten by Patrice Lyle

Description

The death of Western medicine. The death of a federal agent. And the death of sisterly love. 

An explosive new law bans Western medicine and forces Americans to adopt naturopathic medicine as the only legal form of health care. Glisten is the biggest health revolution America has ever seen and sparks controversy that touches many lives... including twin sisters Isabelle and Charelle Adler, who haven't seen each other since they were teenagers. Now Isabelle is a Health Enforcement Agent for the U.S. Department of Glisten and Charelle is deeply entrenched in the Resistance. Add in Isabelle's murdered fiancé and Dr. Jade, a naturopathic doctor who orchestrates a risky maneuver to save her marriage, and Glisten is a fast-paced story about holistic medicine, family secrets, and dangerous choices. 

My Review

I found the thought of this book extremely interesting and I wasn't mistaken. My gut told me this was going to be a good but I was surprised on how much I truly liked it and was enlightened, by all the healthy living and holistic medical  information that Patrice Lyle incorporates into her book. She has taken a Traditional Medical Suspense Novel and put her own spin on it birthing a Holistic Medical Suspense novel where traditional medicine is outlawed, Twin Sisters are on different sides of a war where there is danger, death, heartbreak, family secrets and never a dull moment.

I really enjoyed how the story line was intertwined and you could go from the Glisten side to the Resistance side and feel like they were connected. This book shows the different sides of medicine and alternative options in a world that is consumed with pills vs natural remedies are sometimes it takes a brave person to say no more and find something better the body and soul.

The story line with the secondary characters is equally entertaining and suspenseful Dr. Jade has her own issues in this book so it isn't just about Charelle and Isabelle. This was a book i had trouble putting down and I seriously hope that there is a second book. As Patrice Lyle leaves you wanting more, I hate cliff hangers(I hate waiting for the next book) but i am hoping there is a Glisten 2 to find out what happens next.

*I met Patrice Lyle at the Fredrick Book Festival, she was very engaging and I had a wonderful conversation with her about Holistic medicine and natural living.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5

*I was given this book by the author in return for my honest review 

You can buy Glisten on Amazon